But actually, there’s this whole world people just don’t know about. Unless you knew to look for that, you would think that drag in the UK was very much in pubs or working men’s clubs until the sort of influx of the American drag scene in the 1990s. “ My favourite thing that I learned about was the Porchester Hall drag balls that ran from the late 1960s up until the 1980s. There’s a lot of history out there that hasn’t been explored widely,” Alim says over Zoom, reflecting on the importance of Queer London. “I learned absolutely masses and not just about various bars and clubs from decades passed, although that was really fascinating. Speaking to GAY TIMES, we asked Alim to rank his favourite queer nightlife spaces in the city. From historic bars to background history on vital queer communities, Alim’s debut book is an essential look into some of the iconic venues and locations that have shaped the LGBTQ+ scene in London.
The newly released book came about as a collaboration between writer Alim Kheraj and ACC Art Books as part of the publisher’s London series. Queer London is a comprehensive go-to guide exploring the capital’s vibrant LGBTQ+ scene.
